Customer service. Hard work. Going the extra mile.
These qualities were commonly cited by winners at this year's Battlefords Business Excellence (BBEX) Awards in North Battleford as the secrets for their success and the reason they were honoured.
Norsask Farm Equipment Ltd. needed all of those qualities just to win the top award category of the night on Tuesday - Business of the Year - nudging aside other worthy nominees, Gold Eagle Casino, Gold Eagle Lodge, Mark's Work Wearhouse and TNM Concrete Ltd.
The agricultural and recreational equipment dealership had previously won Business of the Year in 1994, but this was their first such honour under new ownership, as Leon Lozowchuk, Kevin Hadley and PFM Management bought Norsask from its founder Bill Volk three years ago.
Lozowchuk and Hadley were there to accept a BBEX Award made by John Vanderveen, who had hand crafted the awards all the winners received. They singled out the staff at Norsask for praise during their acceptance speeches.
"If it wasn't for our employees and our staff that work for us we wouldn't be in business here in town," said Lozowchuk to reporters. "They truly give their time, their effort and their expertise."
He thanked the BBEX committee for being nominated and said he believes their business won, in part, because of its commitment to great customer service.
"It's great for the community, it's great for employee morale," Hadley said of the BBEX Awards. "Everyone works hard, (they) try their best, trying to provide customer service and do good for the community and this just shows we're on the right track."
Business of the Year was just one of seven major awards handed out on the evening before an overflow crowd at Gold Ridge Centre. The event was sold out for the first time in its history, with the tickets all snapped up weeks in advance. This is the 18th year in which the BBEX Awards have been held to honour business excellence in the Battlefords and area.
The awards night featured competitive races in several award categories and many worthy nominees, a sure sign of the vibrant and booming business atmosphere in the Battlefords.
The Heritage Award category was one where the winner is usually known well before the awards night, with Napa Auto Parts/J.K.P. Farm Supply receiving that honour in 2011.
The business was started by the Prescesky family in 1982 to sell farm parts and supplies to the area, and has grown to supply auto parts and other commodities.
Jim Prescesky accepted the honour for the business along with several other members of the family.
"It's a real honor to get this award," said Prescesky, who says the business has stayed stable over the last 29 years. "The area's growing and we're happy to be growing with it."
Re/Max of the Battlefords was the winner in the Community Contribution category, beating out the other nominees, Battlefords and District Co-operative Ltd. and WPD Ambulance. Owner Brian Maunula accepted the award, which goes to the business that demonstrates exceptional support of recreation, amateur sports, arts and culture, charitable groups or other community efforts.
"It's not one individual - it's the whole team" at RE/MAX responsible, said Maunula. He told reporters the business looks to any avenue they can to contribute to the community.
The export achievement award went to Elias Manufacturing Ltd., which has been producing a portable non-electric durable and accurate cattle scales for the past 26 years, along with other products such as hopper and ATV feeders, all of which they export throughout Canada and the United States.
The marketing award this year went to Gold Eagle Casino, which utilizes a variety of advertising media to attract tourists to the casino and the community.
Marketing co-ordinator Shaun Weber accepted the award.
"It validates all the hard work we put into promoting the casino," said Weber.
Other nominees in the marketing category were Creative Interiors by the Designer Gals, Forest Hall Greenhouse and Garden Centre, Mark's Work Wearhouse, McGuffy's News Inc. and Realty Solutions AKL Ltd.
McGuffy's News won the award in the second category they were nominated for: new business venture. The business topped PureEssence Studio in the category.
Roger Gamble was on hand to accept the award for McGuffy's News, who credited "quality service" and "going the extra mile" for the recognition his company received.
The customer service award featured five finalists: Alumi Glass Service (1983) Ltd., Apple Auto Glass (D & L Auto Glass), Fountain Tire, Prairie Employment Program Inc., and the winner in the category: Pleasant View Grooming and Pet Vacations.
Jeanette Leask accepted the award for Pleasant View Grooming and Pet Vacations and admitted the BBEX Award was a bit of a surprise.
"We won this the first year we were open, so I didn't expect to get it nine years later once again," said Leask.
Like most other winners at the event Leask credited "customer service" as a reason her business was honoured with the BBEX Award.
All of this year's BBEX award winners received impressive vase pieces made of 'figured' maple from the west coast of Canada. Each was made from a single block of wood and then turned, sanded and finished to perfection. Craftsman John Vanderveen lived in south-central Ontario and on Vancouver Island before making his home in Maymont. He also crafted the awards handed out in 2008.
The remaining nominees all received plaques in recognition of their contribution to business excellence in the Battlefords.
The Stan Wychopen Memorial BBEX Scholarship, named in memory of the man who had crafted the awards for 13 years, was also announced at the ceremony. That $1000 scholarship was awarded to Kelsey Redding of Battleford, a full-time student at North West Regional College.
